Grab Malaysia hopes that the Ministry of Transportation will relook into details of the new regulations on e-hailing drivers to be regulated under the same licensing conditions similar to taxis effective today. – Reuters file photo
KUCHING: Grab Malaysia hopes that the Ministry of Transportation will relook into details of the new regulations on e-hailing drivers to be regulated under the same licensing conditions similar to taxis effective today.
The ride-sharing app in a statement to its driver partners today said it was seeking to engage Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke and his team in an open dialogue to clarify, understand and smoothen out the details of the new regulations introduced.
“We understand and are fully aware that you have many questions, concerns and uncertainties as this may affect your welfare, which has and will always be a priority to us at Grab,” it assured.
“You are an important part of the Grab family and a backbone of our community in helping us provide the critical service of transporting millions in Malaysia safely and reliably to their destinations.
“Our commitment to you is this: we will do all that we can to ensure a level playing field, and to ensure minimal impact to you. We will do our best to assist you through any necessary transition in time to come.”
Effective today, e-hailing service providers will be regulated by the government under the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Act 2017 and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (Amendment) Act 2017.
Transport Minister Loke yesterday said all e-hailing companies must register with the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) as mediation business and would have to pay an annual fee of RM115, similar to taxi drivers.
On the conditions for licence application, Loke said e-hailing companies need to register with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (SKM).